Device for treating sheet-like material using pressurized water jets

Abstract

A device for treating sheet-like material using water jets/needles. The device comprises a pressurize water supply body consisting of a feed chamber extending along the entire length of the body and inside which pressurized water is guided through a filter, and a distribution area distributing pressurized water along the entire length of treatment. The distribution area includes a plate ( 7 ) which is provided with microperforations, whereby the holes thereof define water needles which are directed against the surface of the material which is to be treated. The invention is characterized in that the microperforations ( 15 ) are provided inside inserts ( 13 ) which are made of a hard material. The inserts are set inside pre-made hoes ( 12 ) in the plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for treating sheet material, the method comprising: 
       providing a plate having a first hardness, the plate having a plurality of holes;  
       providing a plurality of inserts, the inserts comprising a material having a second hardness, greater than the first hardness, and each insert having a microperforation;  
       inserting the plurality of inserts in the plurality of holes;  
       exposing the microperforations to pressurized water wherein the microperforations provide a plurality of water jets; and  
       impinging the plurality of water jets upon the sheet material to provide at least one of cohesion and appearance modification to the sheet material;  
       wherein the resulting sheet material comprises a sheet material having improved strength compared with sheet material treated in a similar manner but without providing the plurality of inserts.  
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resulting sheet material comprises a sheet material having improved strength in one of the machine direction and cross machine direction compared with sheet material treated in a similar manner but without providing the plurality of inserts. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resulting sheet material comprises a sheet material having at least about a 10% increase in strength compared with sheet material treated in a similar manner but without providing the plurality of inserts. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the resulting sheet material comprises a sheet material having at least about a 15% increase in strength compared with sheet material treated in a similar manner but without providing the plurality of inserts. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resulting sheet material comprises a sheet material having at least about a 10% increase in strength in one of the machine direction and cross machine direction compared with sheet material treated in a similar manner but without providing the plurality of inserts. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts comprise one of zirconia, ruby, sapphire, and ceramic. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes have a depth, and wherein providing a plurality of inserts comprises providing a plurality of inserts having a thickness less than the depth of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality inserts having microperforations comprises providing a plurality of inserts having microperforations having a cylindrical inlet region and a divergent region. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein providing a plate having a plurality of holes comprises providing a plate having a plurality of circular holes having diameters between 0.5 and 2mm, and providing a plurality of inserts comprises providing a plurality of inserts comprising microperforations having diameters of between 50 and 500 um. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising providing a plurality intermediate supports in the plurality of holes, and wherein inserting the plurality of inserts comprises mounting the plurality of inserts on the plurality of intermediate supports. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein providing a plurality of inserts having microperforations comprises providing a plurality of inserts having microperforation having diameters between about 50 um and about 500 um. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein providing a plurality of inserts having microperforations comprises providing a plurality of inserts having microperforations comprising capillaries.